St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-09-01

were half mile from him. We stop
ped, although it was an unusual meth
cd of calling attention.
"Gentlemen," he said, still at the
top of his voice, 81 should be obliged
if you could give me a seat. l have &
long way to go, and / am tired"
We looked at him and at each other
1t was free and easy style of asking
favor; but he seemed a gentleman
and an elderly one too. Common po
likeness dictated civility.
81 am afraid" said ALT, "we have
hardly room ''she's only built fol
three"
"Oh, that doesn't matter" he said
''YOu can put me anywhere, or III
take an oar for one of YOU"
was on the point of advising
point blank refusal, not approaching
his Off-hand manner; but ALT thought
differently.
"All right" said he; "we don't
mind, if you don't. Steer her in, Jack.
l steered her in. No sooner were
we near the shore than, quite unex-
pectedly he stepped almost on my toes,
rocking the boat from side to side.
"Hang it," / said /; "take care, oil
yOu'Ii nave us over.
"What if do ~ he returned. "It'll
only be a swim !; and who minds a
swim in weather like this 2"
We stared at him the GOODNESS, not
to say impertinence, of the remark,
was amazing. Begging a seat in Oul
boat, knowing it was full, and then
telling us he didn't care if he spilled
us into the river. He seated himself
by me, setting the boat seesawing
again, crushing me into a corner; and
without asking with your leave or by
your leave, took the steering lines
from my hands, and slipped them over
his shoulders.
Excuse me-" l said making a snatch
at them "but if you'll allow me-"
mot at ALL" he said 81 always like
something to do, and L expect you've
had enough of it,"
His GOODNESS was amusing he was
impenetrable. l know l for one re-
GREETED we were such mules as to have
had anything to do with him. We
waited in silence a second or two.
"COme," he said, "when are you go
ing to start 2"
"Perhaps," said Alf, a bit nettled,
JOd 10 III OuA DOoOt % 0OAA IL ANON-
guest, you'll let us choose our own
time"
The stranger said nothing; he sat
stOlid and silent. Tom and Alf set of
rowing the stranger steered right
across the stream.
"Where are you going 2" said Aft
"Keep us in"
"rm going into the shade; the sun
is too strong"
He had the lines we could hardly
insist on his keeping one side if he
preferred the other. He took us right
to the opposite bank, under the shad-
ow of the willow trees. For some
minutes neither of us spoke. With
him examining me on my seat, and
ramming his elbows into my side, my
position was not pleasant. At last
let him know it.
81 don't know if you are aware you
are occupying all my seat" ,-a-
He turned on me short and sharp.
All at once noticed his left eye going
up and down like a blinking owl; his
mouth was wide open, disclosing as
ugly set of teeth as l should care to
see. Like flash DR.. Rawle's words
crossed my mind "tall, strong, about
forty five, iron gray hair; habit OF
showing his teeth, and winking his
left eye. Gracious powers was ii
possible we had a lunatic with us un-
awaresq 1 know the possibility, nay
the probability, of such thing made
me feel more than queer. If there is
anything in the world 1 instinctively
fear, it is mad persons. know little
of them; have never been in theil
company. Possibly my ignorance ex-
plains my dread but the idea of sit
ting in the same boat and on the same
seat with a man who
DR.. Rawle's warning, "DOn't let him
lose his temper, or murder will ensue,
made me bound from my seat like
Jack-in- the-box. The boat tipped
right out of the water, but l didn't
care. The man was glaring at me
with cruel eyes; my muscles were
strung, my fists clinched; every mo-
ment L expected him at my throat.
"What the dickens are you up to Y
said ALI. "What's the matter with
yOuR"
"Excitable temperament, hot blood
ed YOUTH" said the stranger.
| could have said something had
chosen, but 1 preferred discretion
didn't like his eyes.
"N-no--nOthing," 1 said. 81 think
I'll sit in the bow" L didn't wait tC
learn if any one had an objection, but
swinging round, l scrambled past ALI
aud tripped full length on to TOMS
knees. The boat went up and down
like swing; it was miracle he was
not over.
els the fellow mad ~ roared ALT.
At the word "mad" the stranger
rose up straight as post. "Mad !" he
said; "dO you know, Sir" He check
ed himself and sat down. "POOh he's
only boy"
In passing Tom 1 whispered in his
ear. "The lunatic," L said.
"What !" said Tom, right out loud.
"HOld your row, you COMPOUNDED
donkey! It's the man from DR..
Rawle's."
"The-"
He was going to say something
naughty know he was but he stop
ped short, and stared at him with all
his eyes. Either Alf overheard me, or
the same idea occurred to him at the
same moment, for he stopped dead in
the middle of stroke, and inspected
the man on the steering seat. Tom
and Alf went on staring at him for a
minute or more. kept my head turn
ed the other way to avoid his eyes.
All at once l felt the boat give great
throb. turned, there was the strang-
er leaning half out of his seat, looking
at Alf in way l shouldn't have cared
to have had him look at me.
"What's the meaning of this insO-
lence I" he said.
The question was not unwarranted
it could not have been pleasant to
have been stared at as Alf and Tom
were staring then.